Public Service Co. of Oklahoma (PSO) is calling on customers to reduce energy use after receiving notice Monday morning of an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 (EEA L3) from the Southwest Power Pool (SPP).
Similarly, CenterPoint Energy has asked its Oklahoma customers to temporarily lower their thermostat settings to conserve natural gas. This will help ensure that all customers continue to have gas service to stay warm during the intensely cold weather.
In emergency situations, SPP may require utilities in the region, including PSO, to initiate a series of planned outages to prevent widespread, lengthy outages.
While PSO was asked to initiate planned outages for some customers Monday morning, that request was put on hold and all customers affected reportedly were restored.
With extreme cold conditions forecast for the next several days, the region’s energy supply may continue to tighten over the next several days. Should another temporary interruption of power be required, customers should be prepared to be without power for approximately two hours. “PSO will make every attempt to provide advance notice to specific areas, alerting customers of the possibility of controlled outages,” company spokesman Stan Whiteford said.
The company stressed that customers should use energy needed for personal safety and to protect against property damage but minor adjustments to thermostats and other measures can make a significant difference to the system. Cold weather safety tips can be found on the PSO website here with energy savings tips here.
The company also requests that all emergent outages be reported through the website or through the mobile app. If there are emergent outages to report, be prepared for longer than usual wait times. “PSO appreciates our customers and their willingness and patience during this emergency,” Whiteford said.
PSO serves more than 562,000 customer accounts in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma. It provides electricity to at least 37 cities and towns in southwest Oklahoma, including Lawton, Altus, Duncan, Cache, Elgin, Fletcher, Sterling, Cement, Cyril, Grandfield, Roosevelt and Rush Springs.
CenterPoint also made an energy conservation appeal to its Oklahoma customers “due to high heating demand in response to the extremely cold temperatures.”
If possible, reduce your thermostat setting to 60-65 degrees during the day when at home – and lower it an additional 5-10 degrees when asleep or away from home – until Friday morning, February 19.
If you experience a loss of gas service or need to report a suspected gas leak, contact the utility at 888-876-5786.
Additional energy saving tips:
• Lower the temperature setting on your water heater and limit your use of hot water.
• Open blinds and shades to take advantage of the sun’s natural heat during the day.
• Close shades and blinds at night to reduce heat loss through windows.
CenterPoint serves approximately 100,000 residential and business customers in Oklahoma. Cities and towns in southwest Oklahoma that are served by CenterPoint include Altus, Apache, Arapaho, Blair, Burns Flat, Chickasha, Comanche, Duke, Duncan, Elgin, Fletcher, Lawton, Mangum, Marlow, Martha, Ninnekah, Olustee, Pocasset, Sterling and Temple.